The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed serious concern about Uganda’s renovation schedule for the Mandela National Stadium, warning that the proposed timeline risks falling short of the strict deadlines tied to the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
Following a detailed inspection conducted in February 2026, CAF highlighted that the scale of work required at Namboole goes far beyond routine refurbishment. The report outlines the need for extensive interventions, including partial demolition of the West Stand, expansion of structural elements, and a complete overhaul of the stadium roof.
Despite Uganda’s plan to complete the upgrades within 15 months, CAF cautioned that such a schedule is unrealistic given the magnitude of the works. The governing body stated that the current timeline is “incompatible with AFCON 2027 delivery requirements” and urged authorities to rethink their execution strategy.
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To keep the project within acceptable timelines, CAF advised a more pragmatic approach, one that leverages the existing structural framework rather than pursuing time-consuming reconstruction. The organization emphasized the importance of shortening the construction period and setting a firm completion target of December 2026
CAF also made it clear that tangible progress must be evident before its next inspection, scheduled for August 2026. Key expectations include the appointment of contractors, approval of a revised and feasible upgrade plan, and visible commencement of major structural works.
As Uganda’s premier football venue, Namboole is central to the country’s hosting ambitions. However, CAF’s warning highlights the real possibility that delays could undermine Uganda’s readiness to stage matches during the continental showpiece.
Beyond structural concerns, the stadium still falls short in several critical areas. CAF pointed to outdated crowd movement systems, insufficient hospitality infrastructure, and media facilities that do not meet modern broadcasting standards.
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The pressure is not limited to Namboole alone. Uganda’s broader AFCON preparations are also under scrutiny, including planned upgrades to Hoima City Stadium, improvements to training facilities, and the expansion of essential infrastructure such as Hoima Airport, accommodation capacity, and road networks.
The renovation project at Namboole has already been entrusted to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Engineering Brigade, with a memorandum of understanding signed and the site officially handed over. However, with CAF’s latest warning, the urgency to accelerate and recalibrate the entire process has never been greater.
